Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Because of Winn-Dixie, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Storytelling and Listening
Sadness, Happiness, and Growing Up
Family and Loss
Openness, Friendship, and Community
Summary
Analysis
Winn-Dixie starts to look healthier, and his limp disappears. He seems proud that he no longer looks like a stray, so Opal decides that he needs a collar and leash. She goes into Gertrude’s Pets, the local pet shop, and finds a beautiful red collar and leash. Winn-Dixie obeys the sign saying “no dogs allowed” and sits outside, but he smiles and wags his tail when Opal shows him the set through the window. It is, unfortunately, very expensive, so Opal asks the man at the counter if he could set her up with an installment plan. Someone screams, “Gertrude!” and Opal notices a parrot sitting on a fish tank. She ignores the parrot and explains that she’ll hand over her allowance every week in exchange for the collar and leash—but the man at the counter says that the owner wouldn’t like it. He looks down. Opal notices that his nametag reads “Otis.”
Buying Winn-Dixie a collar and leash would, in Opal’s mind, make Winn-Dixie’s inclusion in the family seem more official. This is probably a very attractive prospect for Opal, given that Mama isn’t around—anything that makes her family feel more whole and more secure likely appeals to her. The leash specifically suggests that Opal wants to be able to keep Winn-Dixie from running away like Mama did. However, it does read as somewhat excessive to get an expensive collar and leash, given that Winn-Dixie seems to have no problem staying at Opal’s side. This seems to be about Opal’s fears, not any bad behavior on Winn-Dixie’s part.
Themes
Opal offers that alternatively, she could come in and clean. She notices that there are dust bunnies and pet food debris all over. The parrot screams, “Gertrude!” again, and Opal explains that she’s trustworthy—her daddy is the preacher at the Open Arms Baptist Church. She says that her dog, Winn-Dixie, would need to come in with her though, otherwise he’ll howl. Otis says that Gertrude doesn’t like dogs—the parrot is named Gertrude, after the store’s owner. Opal says that pretty much everyone likes Winn-Dixie and asks if she could have the job if Gertrude likes Winn-Dixie. Otis mumbles.
Because Opal wants so badly to make her ownership of Winn-Dixie official, she’s more willing than she might otherwise be to engage with Otis. Once again, Winn-Dixie encourages Opal to meet someone who could become a friend, even if he’s doing so inadvertently in this situation. Meanwhile, Opal’s insistence that Winn-Dixie come inside with her shows how loyal she is to those she considers friends or family members.
Themes
Opal lets Winn-Dixie in the store. Gertrude screams, “dog!” and then the two animals stare at each other. After a minute, Gertrude lands on Winn-Dixie’s head. Otis says that Opal can start on Monday. As Opal and Winn-Dixie leave the shop, Opal tells the dog that he’s the best at making friends and if Mama were here, she’d think he’s the best dog. Winn-Dixie and Opal almost bump into Sweetie Pie Thomas, who’s sucking her knuckle and staring into the pet shop. She asks if the bird really sat on Winn-Dixie’s head and explains that after Winn-Dixie caught the mouse in church, she asked her mama for a dog like Winn-Dixie. Sweetie Pie strokes Winn-Dixie, announces that she’s turning six in September, and invites Opal and Winn-Dixie to her party. Opal feels happy: she has a job, a friend in Miss Franny, and an invitation to a party.
Whatever Mama might think, Winn-Dixie is exceptional at making friends. Thus far, he’s proven everyone wrong about his behavior—which, in more cases than not, causes people to fall in love with him. At five years old, Sweetie Pie is one of the least judgmental characters in the novel. This suggests that, to some degree, prejudice is something that people learn as they grow up—but then it’s something they must unlearn if they expect to make friends. By accepting Sweetie Pie’s invitation, Opal has to let go of some of her own judgment—she previously wrote Sweetie Pie off because of her age. Now, she sees the value in having friends of all ages.
Themes
